In Pictures: All the fun of the Fringe

A doll-like clown in a yellow and red dress, bright red wig and doll clown make-up poses with a kiss while holding flyers advertising her showImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Cast members walk the streets of Edinburgh handing out leaflets to attract visitors to their shows

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Edinburgh is a riot of colour, sounds, smells and sights to behold as the 2025 Fringe hits its peak.

From street performers to tourists and flyer givers vying for audience attention, we have selected some images of what's on offer at the world's biggest performance arts festival.

All photos are subject to copyright.

Miss Frisky - a blonde curly-haired woman, crouches inside a mirror box, reflecting her bright orange sequin dress onto dozens of mirrors around her.
Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
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Miss Frisky, star of the show Frisky's Reshuffle, explores the kaleidoscope at the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions on the Royal Mile.

Six members of the Theatre Re ensemble cycle ad run through the Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh. A young man in a green school uniform leads the way on a bike, pointing ahead and two girls and three men run alongside him, smiling and pointing.
Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
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Members of the Theatre Re ensemble ran through the Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh to publicise their show the Nature of Forgetting

A black and white image taken from behind a street artist as he performs to a circle of people on a cobbled square in Edinburgh. A suitcase sits behind him on the ground, a table in front where he seems to be performing a trick of some kindImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Street theatre is one of the big draws of the Fringe

A middle-aged man and a woman sit on a street bench enjoying a couple of ice cream cones as the crowds pass by. The man wears a rain jacket and blue shirt as he takes a big lick of his cone, the woman, wearing a pink visor cap holds her mint choc chip cone.Image source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Time for a rest - two Fringe-goers stop for a break and an ice cream

A young Ukrainian girl in a white dress smiles and holds a big red flower over her head while on stage. Similarly-dressed children stand in a group behind her under the theatre lights.
Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
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Ukraininan settlers perform the show Life in One Suitcase at the EICC, the story of their journey in Scotland

Three people dressed as giant red, black, and white feathered chickens cross the road on a zebra crossing in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, during a photocall for their show Three Chickens Confront Existence.Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
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Three chickens cross the road... to promote their Fringe show

A young boy in shorts and a baseball cap gives out flyers standing on a street security bollard as people walk through the gateImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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The promotion starts young - a boy gives out flyers standing on a street security bollard

A man in a white suit and bow tie makes a fist beside a "bride" in a white dress, veil and with a grimace on her face as she grabs him by the lapelsImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Performers get into character as they mingle with people on the street

Lookalikes of Liam and Noel Gallagher get into character in The Grassmarket, Edinburgh. "Liam" is in a khaki Adidas jacket and "Noel" in a denim jacket. Both are wearing shades.Image source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
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Definitely maybe some Oasis lookalikes publicise their show on the Grassmarket

Five musicians from How to Win Against History match the green tones of the Ross Fountain,  in green costumes as they pose on the edge of the round Victorian iron structure, holding up their instruments.Image source, Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
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Performers from How to Win Against History during a photocall at the Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens

A dark-haired bearded man wears a Bourbon biscuit headpiece as he gives out flyers on the Royal MileImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Some of the promotional staff take the biscuit as they try to attract audiences

Ceili O'Connor, a blonde glamourously-dressed woman in a green dress and heels, kicks a football alongside fellow performers from Footballers Wives: The Musical - a group of men and women dressed in smart suits and dresses.  Image source, Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
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Ceili O'Connor hits the ball alongside fellow performers from Footballers Wives: The Musical

Three members of the cast of circus company Flip Fabrique perform a human pyramid in Victoria Street. They are wearing trousers with braces and are in front of the famous street with coloured buildings that curves behind them.Image source, Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images
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Street acrobats entertain visitors on Victoria Street

Male and female street performers in floral bright costumes pose on a metal ring prop with bubbles around them. People have gathered around them and are smiling and clapping. Image source, Ewan Bootman/Anadolu via Getty Images
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Smiles all round as street performers entertain passers-by on the Royal Mile

Brightly coloured posters advertising shows are pasted on a board with Edinburgh Castle in the background and the green trees of Princes Street Gardens below.Image source, Ken Jack/Getty Images
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Any surface in the city becomes an advertising board for the many shows

A bearded man in a black top and jeans plays the accordion as he lies on the cobbled street and sings. People are walking behind him.Image source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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A musician gives his all on the cobbles of the Royal Mile

Gabriel Aragú Fernando and María Garcia Lola pose in front of the Stockbridge Market during a photocall for ‘Lola: A Flamenco Love Story’ He is wearing smart, burgundy trousers and she is in a beautiful white Flamenco dress, her hair in a pony tail. They are both looking at each other in a dance pose intensely.Image source, Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images
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Every street's a stage during the Edinburgh Festivals.

A group of performers sing as they hand out leaflets. They are young and wear trendy clothes.Image source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Singers get attention as they promote their show on the city streets

A man with a long, white beard holds a white cockatoo-type bird as he hands out flyers. He is wearing a yellow waterproof jacket and brightly coloured dungarees. He also has a blue and red spotty bag round his neckImage source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Any gimmick for attention - a man with a long, white beard holds a white cockatoo-type bird as he hands out flyers

A monochrome image of two women, facing opposite directions and wearing bonnets with their faces covered, hand out promotional materials in the street.Image source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Performers dress in their stage costumes to promote their shows

A balloon model maker on stilts holding his hands wide as he smiles. He is wearing a green and white balloon hat, a checked and rainbow shirt, yellow and orange satin trousers and a red clown nose. He is standing on the corner of Princes Street with a big stone building behind him.Image source, Chris Foote/BBC Scotland
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Traditional street entertainers mix with the more "out there" characters